Failure of pre-diarrheal antibiotics to prevent hemolytic uremic syndrome in serologically proven Escherichia coli O157:H7 gastrointestinal infection.

A girl had hemolytic uremic syndrome after Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection, despite pre-diarrheal administration of an antibiotic that prevented detectable intestinal colonization. This report casts doubt on the advisability of antibiotic therapy for E coli O157:H7 infections and has implications for our understanding of the mechanism of this disorder.